Hundreds of Bangladeshis still stranded in Port Sudan, awaiting evacuation For many countries, Saudi Arabia’s help has been key in evacuation efforts DHAKA: Bangladesh is grateful for Saudi Arabia’s help in evacuating its nationals from Sudan, officials said on Monday as the first group of evacuees reached Dhaka. Foreign countries have been evacuating their nationals in Sudan after deadly fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces, resulting in the deaths of over 500 people and injury to more than 4,000 others. Though mass evacuation efforts began on April 24, when the warring parties announced a ceasefire, more than 100 Bangladeshis were evacuated from Sudan only on Sunday as the South Asian nation started rescue operations much later. The group of 135 people were transported with flights operated by the Saudi air force to Jeddah from Port Sudan. They then flew to Bangladesh with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, arriving in Dhaka on Monday. “My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of myself, our embassy, and the people of our country,” Mohammed Javed Patwary, ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia, told Arab News in a phone interview. “From the very outset of the clashes, we have been in touch with the Kingdom officials, and they have been providing us all-out support.” For many countries, Saudi Arabia’s help has been key in the evacuation efforts. Thousands of foreign nationals have been evacuated from Sudan by sea, through the port of Jeddah. “We are very grateful to the Saudi authorities for extending support in this evacuation process,” Shah Mohammed Tanvir Monsur, director-general of the Consular and Welfare Wing of the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Arab News. “The Kingdom is providing all its support free of cost. The Saudis are trying their best to evacuate the stranded people from trouble-torn Sudan,” he said. “It would have been a big problem if the Kingdom’s authorities didn’t extend their support for evacuation at this crucial moment.” Hundreds of Bangladeshis are still stranded in a cramped makeshift camp in Port Sudan, awaiting evacuation, and are still unsure when they will be brought to safety. Officials are hoping to bring the second batch of Bangladeshi evacuees to Jeddah on Tuesday but said plans often change due to the high number of requests for evacuation from other countries. “Probably, the second batch of Bangladeshis will take a voyage to Jeddah on Tuesday. Nothing is confirmed yet,” Monsur said.